DA refiles perjury, voter fraud charges against Richard Alarcon

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Hours after a judge dropped the criminal case against LA City Councilman Richard Alarcon, the District Attorney's Office refiled the exact same charges. David McNew/Getty Images

Hours after a judge dismissed a criminal case against Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife, the District Attorney’s Office refilled the exact same 24 counts stemming from allegations the councilman lived outside of his district.

The Alarcons were originally charged back in 2010. The councilman is accused of registering his address as Panorama City, within the boundaries of his Seventh District, when he in fact lived in Sun Valley, outside of his district.

Alarcon has always maintained that he did live in the house in Panorama City, but moved out after a squatter broke in and occupied the residence for as long as 48 hours.

Judge Kathleen Kennedy dismissed the case this morning, saying members of the Grand Jury were not given the opportunity to review evidence that favored the councilman.

District Attorney Steve Cooley disagreed.

“The Grand Jury transcripts clearly show that our prosecutors did indeed present evidence submitted by the councilman and his wife,” Cooley said in a statement. “The Grand Jury chose not to consider it, as is their right.”

The councilman again faces two felony counts of filing a false declaration of candidacy, seven counts of voter fraud and nine counts of perjury, including three for allegedly filing false driver’s license applications.

Flora Montes de Oca Alarcon is charged with three counts of perjury and three counts of voter fraud.

The Alarcons will be arraigned at a later date, according to the district attorney’s office.